Lighting system



Nov. 16, 1937.

L. SCHEPMOES LIGHTING SYSTEM Filed A ril 2, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet l nillli READING PLANE INVENTOR Limis lay Sc/zepmoes BY ATTORNEYS NOV. 16, 1937. SCHEPMQES 2,099,452

LIGHTING SYSTEM Filed April 2, 1935 2 Sheets-Shegt Z V a Z 22;

Tic. 5. 22

- 'INVENTOR Lilsl] Sc/zepmoes mm, M QM ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 16, 1937.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LIGHTING SYSTEM Application April 2, 1935. Serial No. 14,268 a Claims. zit-v.35)

This invention relates tolighting apparatus particularly'adapted to illuminate a railroad car or the like.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide lighting apparatus which is simple in construction, thoroughly eflicient and reliable in operation. Another object of the invention is'to provide apparatus of the above nature which is light and inex'pensivein construction yet pleasing .10 in appearance and particularly well adapted for use-in railroad cars or the like. Another object is to provide an apparatus of the above nature 7 which can be readily installed in cars of standard construction without necessitating material 'al- 5 the above nature which may be suitably installed in a car provided with an air conditioning system. Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter. The invention accordingly consists in the fea- 30 tures of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts as will be exemplified in the structure to be hereinafter described and the scope ofthe application of which will'be indicated in the following claims. 35- In the accompanying drawings in which are shown several of the various possible embodiments of this invention,

Figure 1 is a diagrammatical cross section of the upper portion of a railroad car'orthe like; 40 Figure 2 is a fragmentary sectional perspective viewof one embodiment of my invention;

' Figure 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of another embodiment of my invention; and

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional'perspec- .45 tive view of another embodiment of my inven-- 50 As conducive to a clearer understanding of certain features of this invention, it should be noted that, in many of the lighting systems now in use, illumination of the car or the like is achieved by individual groups or clusters of lights 55 or electric light bulbs spaced along the ceiling of a car. In many instances, the individual groups are both cumbersome and heavy and give rise to bothersome glare with resulting annoyance to the passengers. In air conditioned cars, for example, in which air ducts are disposed along the 6 ceiling or in the clerestory of the car, these individual groups or clusters of lights are generally located along the center of the car between the ducts which, in many cases, results in a partial shading of the light emanating from the clere-' 1 story, and in others, results in an undue multiplication of individual clusters in order to 'provide sufficient illumination. This in turn results in added expense and trouble in wiring the car and in providing numerous individual fixtures. As the modern tendency in car construction is to reduce the total weight of the car as much as possible, multiplication of lighting fixtures adds to the total weight of the car. Furthermore, the individual group or cluster is not in keeping with modern streamline designand, therefore, does not harmonize with the general appearance of the interior of the car. One of the objects of this invention is to produce a system of lighting a railroad car or the like which overcomes the '25 above-mentioned difllculties as well as many stituting part of the ceiling of the car and connecting with the side walls of clerestory ll. Clerestory ll includes ceiling portions I 8 and I1 which form a false roof beneath roof Ila thereof thus to form enclosures i8 and i9 which may be utilized as air ducts when an air conditioning plant or the like is installed in the car. Between ducts II and i9, I preferably dispose my lighting apparatus generally indicated at 20.

As is more clearly shown in Figure 2, lighting apparatus 20 comprises an elongated illuminator 2| which extends substantially throughout the length oi the car and is preferably built up of individual sections. The details of construction of illuminators suitable for this p p se, as well as mounting apparatus, are described in my copending application, Serial Number 14,266. 11-- luminator 21 is secured in any suitable manner to a conduit 22 in which are located electric conductors 22 connected by suitable socket members I or the like (not shown) to the filament in illuminator 2|. Conduit 22 is suitably secured in an inverted channel member 24 preferably by way 5 illuminator.

'aooaasa of-screws or the like so that it may be removed to spacedfrom one another anditheports preferably gain access to conductors 23. Channel member 26 is secured to a pair of curved plates 25. and 26 which in turn are attached to clerestory roof are positioned between the plate. members 23. 'I'hus, as ports 33 are substantially adjacent the edges of reflecting members. 21 and 28, they form i la in any desired manner. Suitably secured to with plates 29 a design-of pleasinggappe'arance 5 channel member 24 and depending downwardly in the ceiling of the car which is in harmony therefrom is a pair of reflecting members Ti and with an interior characterized by length rather 23 located on opposite sides of illuminator 2i and having their bottom' edges preferably in the vioinity of ceiling portions I 6 and I'll A plurality equidistantly spaced along illuminator 2i and are than breadth. Itv will further be seen that a large number of ports 33rnay be formed in ducts i8 and it fully capable of furnishing an adequate 1c of plate-like reflecting members 29 are preferably supply of air to the car.

Referring nowto Figure 4 in which is shown connected to reflecting members 27 and 28 in any another embodiment oi. my invention, channel suitable manner. These plate-like members are preferably opaque and are provided with. suitable indentures 29a so that theymay extend about the Thus, reflector members 21 and 28 together member 24 of illuminating fixture 20 is prefers ably secured directly to clerestory roof I I a and is disposed between air ducts I 8 and I8. Air ducts l8 and I9 are formed by ceiling portions I 6 and J1 and interior wall portions generally indicated w th plates 9 form a unit, preferably divided at 34 and 35. As walls 34 and 35 are substaninto longitudinal sections along the length of the tially similar-in construction, wall 34 only will be 20 car. These units are preferably held in position described in detail. Thusf wall 14 comprises a so that the upper edges 21a and 28a rest against plate 36 which has an upper flange 36a secured the respective bottom edges of the sides of channel member 24. Thus, I prefer to provide a plurality of spring clips [5 pivotally secured to as by spot welding, for example, to clerestory roof Ha. The lower flange 36b of plate 38 has secured thereto, asby screws. 31; a curved 5 conduit 223 by rivets or the like I6; These clips fplate 38; thisicurved'plate extends inwardly and are shaped so that the extremities thereof rest against reflector members 21 and 28 to hold the sections in the above-described position. By

downwardly and'is preferably connected to re-. fleeting member 21. Asuitable number of hangers 39 are secured to plate 36 desirably by rivets turning the spring clips, the individual sectiond All and extend therebelown Hangers 33 have 30 may be removed to gain access to the illuminator as well as conduit 22.

Curved plates 25 and 23 are preferably substantially spaced from reflecting members 21 and 28, and with ceiling portions i6 and I1, form respectively the bottoms andinner side walls of right angle portions 33a secured to ceiling portion l6; ceiling portion I6 is thus spaced below the upper edge of plate 38. a continuous inletport H is provided which permits the flow of: air from duct '8 intothe car. Air enters 35 from the duct .in a lateral direction and is 'deair ducts I8 and i9. A number of air inlet ports fiected downwardly by plate 38. Similarly, wall 30 are suitably formed in plates 25 and 36 to 35 includes a plate 42 and a curved plate 43 v permit the flow of air from ducts l3 and lfiinto which, with cefling' portion l1, forms inlet port the car. It may now, beseen that, as lighting fixture 20 extends substantially throughout the length of the'car in a channel formed by air ducts l8 and i 9, they direct light of even intensity downwardly throughout the length of the car. Furthermore,-reflecting members Tl and 28' re- 44 forgduct ls. It will now be seen that in this i embodiment I have provided lighting apparatus combined with the air ducts which is particularly well adapted for use in modern railroad cars or the like. Furthermore, the elongated inlet ports ll and I! permit a maximum influx flect light'fromthe illuminator downwardly while of air into the car from the ducts and also disreflecting plates 23 prevent substantial hori-' zontal diffusion of light. In t manner passengers in the car receive an ad qhate supply of light for reading purposes or the like and yet, if they chance to glance upwardly, they do not In Figure 3 in which is. shown another emboditribu'te the air evenly throughout the length of them. v

Referring now to Figure 1, it may be seenthat reflecting members Hand 23- preferably have their lower edges substantially "in the plane of the uppermost surfaces of ceiling portions 16 and 11. 'Accordingly, light rays emanating from ment of this invention, the air ducts are formed illuminator 2i are diffused throughout the lower by ceiling portions l6 and I! which, in this instance, extend to and-prefrably connect with reflecting members '21 and 28; the interior walls, of the ducts comprise plate members 3! and 32 Channel member of lighting fixture 20 is located between ducts l3 and l3 and is preferably secured directly to clerestory roof Ila. Plate member 31 is provided with flanges 3la, and 3% which are respectively secnned as by spot welding, for example, to clerestory roof I la portions of the car, and no shadows are cast by air ducts .l8 and IS in the area in which illumination is desired. The area of illumination, as indicated by the dotted lines in Figure l, is sufllciently ample to provide light of even intensity at the reading plane or the top of a dining table as the case maybe.

By referring to Figura 2, 3, 01-4, it maybenoted that reflecting members 21 and 23 direct light rays emanating from illuminator 2| in vertical and ceiling portion it while flanges 32a and and lateral directions with respect to the illumi- 66 32b of plate member32 are respectively secured nator,.and plates 29 substantially prevent reflec- I in a like manner toclerestory roof Ila and tion of light rays in longitudinal directions with ceiling portion ll. Flanges 3lb and 32b may,

also be secured toreflecting members 21 and 28 respectively and, under; certain conditions, this has been found more desirable.

respect to the illuminator/ Thus, unless the passenger looks directly into the illuminator, heis not subjectedto anycglare and accordingly is not 70 troubled by .any overintensity of light while sit- A suitable number of air inlet ports 33 are ting or standing in a normal position.

provided in ceiling portions i6 and I1 through which air may flow from ducts l3 and I9 into It will further appear that air ducts i3 and 13 in any-of the embodiments or my invention the car. Ports 33 are preferably equidistantly may be readily installed in any car, or, the like,

' tudinal opening along the central portion of said 7 of standard construction with a minimum amount of trouble and expense and that the lighting fixture 20 may likewise be installed without extensive wiring or material alteration of the car interior. Furthermore, the entire apparatus is well able to withstand long usage and constant vibration without troublesome rattling or other undesirable results. i

It will thus be seen that I have provided an apparatus which is thoroughly practical, efficient, and durable and in which the several objects hereinabove mentioned, as well as man others, are successfully accomplished;

As many possible embodiments may be made 'of the above invention and as many changes might be made in the embodiments above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter hereinbefore set forth, or shown in the accompanying drawings, is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. In lighting apparatus for railroad cars or the like, in combination, a car including a clerestory and a pair of air ducts disposed on opposite sides of said clerestory and extending.longitudinally of the car, an elongated illuminator secured to the ceiling of said clerestory between said ducts and reflecting means secured to said ceiling forming sidewalls for said ducts reflecting light rays emanating from said illuminator.

2. In lighting apparatus for railroad cars or the like, in combination, a car including a clerestory and a pair of air ducts disposed on opposite sides of said clerestory and extending longitudinally of the car, an illuminator disposed between said ducts and suspended from the ceiling of said car, a pair of reflecting members secured to the ceiling of said car on opposite sides of said illuminator and forming side walls for said air ducts, and means forming inlet ports in said ducts whereby air may flow therefrom into said car.

3. In lighting apparatus for railroad cars or the like, in combination, a car including a clerestory and a pair of air ducts disposed on opposite sides of said clerestory and extending longitudinally of the car, said ducts forming a channel extending along the central portion of the car. an illuminator disposed between said ducts and secured to the ceiling oi said car and substantially coextensive with said car, a palr,of reflecting members secured to the ceiling of said car on opposite sides of said illuminator and depending therefrom to substantially the plane of the bottom of said air ducts, means forming inlet ports in said ducts, and a plurality of platelike members vertically related to the longitudinal axis of said illuminator.

4. In lighting apparatus for railroad cars or the like, in combination, a car having a clerestory, a pair of plate-like portions extending from the sides of said clerestory and spaced beneath the top of. said clerestory to form a longiclerestory, reflecting means disposed between said side portions adjacent said longitudinal open: ing, illuminating means suspended beneath said reflecting means, and a plurality of plate-like tudinal edges of said plate portions and terminating above said plate portions to form air ducts along the sides of said-clerestory having longitudinal slot-like openings adjacent said firstmentioned longitudinal opening, a plurality of bracket members secured to said side portions and said plate portions, a pair of deflecting portions secured to the bottoms of said plate portions and thence curving downwardly to points spaced inwardly from the inner longitudinal edges of said plate portions, channel-like reflecting means connected to said deflecting portions and extending upwardly between said side portions, illuminating means disposed beneath said reflecting means, and a plurality of plate-like reflector members disposed within said reflecting means substantially at right angles to said side portions.

6. In lighting apparatus for railroad cars or the like, in combination, a car having a clerestory, a pair of plate-like portions extending from the sides of said clerestory and spaced beneath the top of said clerestory to form a longitudinal opening along the central portion of said clerestory, a pair of U-shaped side portions secured to said plate portions and secured to the top of said clerestory, said side portions and said plate portions together forming a pair of longitudinal air ducts along the oposite sides of said clerestory, reflecting means disposed between said side.portions adjacent said longitudinal opening, and illuminating means suspended beneath said reflect ing means. i

7. Lighting apparatus for railroad cars or the like comprising, in combination, a car, means forming a supporting member extending longition to permit separation of said members from their assembled relationship.

8. In a lighting system for a railroad car.or the like, in combination, a car, means forming a pair of air ducts along the upper portion of said car,

means forming a wire conduit between said air ducts, an elongated illuminator operatively related to said conduit, an elongated reflector, a plurality of plate members secured to said reflector in spaced parallel planes transverse to the longitudinal axis of the reflector, and means pivotally associated with said conduit and pivotable into a position to engage said reflector to mount the reflector and said plate members as a unit in operative relation to said illuminator, whereby the unit may be easily attached to and detached fromthe conduit without disturbing the illuminator.

LINDSLEY SCHEPMOES. 

